ETHNIC-GROUPS-OF-NEPAl and their characteristics features

Ethnic group of nepal and their cultural belief

1. ETHNIC GROUPS OF NEPAL Prepared by: RITESH KUMAR SAH ROHAN RAUT RUPESH KUSHAWAHA RAJEEV MAHASETH SANDESH BASNET 1

2. INTRODUCTION OF ETHNIC GROUP: An ethnic group is a group of people identified with one another or are so identified by others on the basis of a boundary that distinguishes them from other groups. This boundary may take any of a number of forms-racial, cultural, linguistics, economic, religious and political. Members of an ethnic group are often presumed to be culturally or biological similar, although it is not in fact necessarily the case. Another characteristic of ethnic group is continuity in time, that is, a history and a future as a people. An ethnic group is a community or population made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent. 2

3. MAIN ETHNIC GROUPS LIVING IN NEPAL: Ethnic groups of Mountainous Region: Brahman and Chettri Newar Tamang Gurung Magars Thakali Kirantis Occupational castes 3

4. BRAHMAN AND CHHETRI: These two large groups are distributed in scattered patterns all over the country, which are considered the two highest caste in Nepal. They are also identified as the name of Khas Brahman, Brahmins are believed to have migrated from India. They are Aryan. Civil, Royal army, police and agriculture are the main occupation. Marriage system in Brahman and Chhetri is localized only in their caste . In Brahman and Chettri , they worship their daughter as Devi and give them respect by salutation. 4

5. BRAHMAN AND CHHETRI: These people follow Hinduism, and they worship main three gods namely, Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. They celebrate Dashain, Tihar, Makar Sankarti , Krishna Astami , Teej . They incinerate the dead body in riverbank, and they don’t take salt for 13 days . They also carryout memorial death feast annually for their parents saperately after their death. Female don’t pray, worship even touch to male and husband during menstruation. 5

6. NEWAR: Newar are believed to be the oldest cast of Kathmandu valley. They are distributed all over Nepal. Newar have their own language, and their language is different in different places. They are also known as Newa . There are many castes among the newar ( More than 25). They worship god of Bhimsen , Ganesh and they makes their settlement wherever they dwell. Celebration of Jatra , party is a tradition of Newars . They celebrate, Gaijatra , Indrajatra , Bhoto jatra , kumari jatra , Maha pooja etc. 6

7. TAMANG: In Tibetan language Tamang means horse traders.it is believed that they originally come from Tibet. They believe buddhis religion. Agricultures works, cottage industries are main occupation of then. They make woolen blanket, carpet and mat easily and sell them. They don’t know that extra diet, extra care is necessary during pregnancy. Delivery is usually conducted at home. There is also tradition of marriage with the daughter of maternal uncle. If somebody dies in relatives or neighborhood, all relatives gather and take the dead body for incineration. 7

8. GURUNG: Gandaki, Kaligandaki sectors, Annapurna, Manaslu sector are the origin and settlement are of Gurungs. But, Now thet are widely distributed all over nepal , most in city like Pokhara, Kathmandu etc. They are believed as laborious, hard worker, brave and fearless. So they are widely appoint at police, army, Indian army, British army etc. They have their own language. Festivals celebrated by Gurung ethnic are Dashain, Tihar, Lhoshar , Makar sankrati , cahitra Dashain etc. 8

9. GURUNG: Death condolence is different and strange in Gurung ethnic groups. If dead person is unmarried, the cover cloth for him will be given by maternal uncle but if married women then that should be given by her parents. These tradition is known as’’ Assyo ware’’. 9

10. MAGARS: The magars originates in the western and central area of nepal , though are found in scattered communities throughout the country. The physical features of magars are mongoloid and they have their own language. The basis of magars economy in all areas in agriculture which is largely self sufficient. Most of magars are involved in soldier, skilled work like carpenter, stone cutting and agricultural works. The majority of them are Hindus and worship Vishnu, Mahadev, Krishna, Ganesh, Laxmi, Saraswati etc . 10

11. THAKALI: Thakalis originate from the Kali Gandaki Gorge and like many Nepali group have been subject to both hindu and buddhist influences. They have Mongolian features, a fair complexion and narrow eyes. Thakali are divided into three major groups: Marphali , Thakali and Tamang . Their religion is a mixture of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jhankrism . They are known for their Hospitality, good salesmanship, and cleanliness. 11

12. KIRANTIS: The kirantis are comprised of Rais and Limbus and are the oldest known peoples of nepal . They are decendeds of the Kirati’s who first formed the kingdom in the Kathmandu valley. Kirantis people are well known for their courage and bravery and are often recruited into armies abroad like the more famous Gurkhas. The religious text of Limbu is the Mundhum . 12

13. OCCUPATIONAL CASTES: Certain ethnic groups in Nepal are categorized according to their occupation. They are Kamis(smiths), Damais (tailors) , Dhobis(washerman), Sarkis(cobblers), Gaines(professional singers) and Khumbharas (porters). Hinduism is their major religion and Nepali is their major language. Many have their own local festivals and practices. 13

14. MAIN ETHNIC GROUPS LIVING IN NEPAL: Ethnic groups of Terai: Tharu/ chaudhari Danuwar Satar Musahar Mushalmans Rajbansis 14

15. THARU/CHAUDHARI: This is the largest and oldest ethnic group of Terai and mid land found living in close proximity to densely forested regions. Agricultural work, livestock, Fish hunting are the main occupation of Tharu. This ethnic group are marginalized group of Nepal, due to lack of education and opportunity. They have their own language. They called ‘’ Gurau ’’ if they become sick. Most of tharu believe ‘ tantra-mantra ’ treatment therapy. They follow Hindu religion and their practices are dependent on many typical Aryan practices. 15

16. DANUWAR: They are backwarded caste of Eastern Terai region. Their traditions are most likely to that of Tharus . Boating, fishing and agriculture are main occupation of them. As like tharu they also take pregnancy normally and believe that they have not necessary of extra food during pregnancy. If the labour is prolonged they call Dhami or Jhankri . They celebrate with chicken after child birth. They worship Bandevi , family god during marriage and annually. Their death condolence is same as Brahmans, Chhetri. They burial at river bank if death person is chind and if adult they incinerate at river bank. 16

17. SATAR: They are very much like Tharu, and their social life is organized and disciplined. They believe in Hinduism. According to this ethnic group if someone break the social rules, he should organize a party for their community . They take pregnant woman as normal due to lack of education and awareness. Sex is free among young adulthood of satar . But if a girl get pregnant before marriage, that boy should marry her. If refuses the marriage then he should pay tax labour expenditure to her. 17

18. MUSAHAR: Musahar are very poor ethnic group of terai region. they are mostly settled in Malangwa ( Sarlahi ), Rauthat , gaur , mahotari , sunsari , dhanusha , saptari , siraha . The meaning of musahar is (Musa-Rat ,Har- Plought ). They catch Rat during ploughing and consume it. So they are known as Musahar . They celebrate Dashain, Tihar, Chhath, Holi, and Makar Sankranti. They feed ginger and jaggery soup for post natal mother. Child marriage and step marriage are most common. 18

19. MUSALMANS: The musalmans are migrated from Northen India. They speak Urdu and their social practices correspond with the muslim religion. They worship Allah. 19

20. RAJBANSIS: This is a dominant ethnic group of far eastern Terai areas of Jhapa and Morang. Although they follow both Hindu and Muslims religions, they have their own local practices. Farming is their major occupation. 20

21. MAIN ETHNIC GROUPS LIVING IN NEPAL: Ethnic group of Higher Hilly Region: Sherpa 21

22. SHERPA: The term sherpa”refers both to an ethnic group and climbers or trek leaders. Sherpa culture is distinctly differentl from the other 60 ethnic group of Nepal including Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. Sherpa are main ethnic group settling in Himalayan sector of Nepal. They collect high altitude medicinal plants e.g. silajit , nirnasi pachak , sire-noon, bire -noon etc. First climber of Mt Everest is belong Sherpa ethnic group . They belong to Buddhis religion. They celebrate and be happy if a child borns at home. They don’t checkup their health during pregnancy. But at the time of labor, they take help from traditional birth attendants. 22

23. ANY QUESTIONS IF YES RAISE YOUR HAND Any questions ? 23

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